PROFIT Xchange: Supporting and Celebrating Women in Business
>> Brought to you by PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success
April 29, 2008
IN THIS ISSUE
1. SUCCESS STORIES >> Sionna's rising star
2. THE BALANCE FILES >> How Canada's female business leaders juggle work and personal time
3. MARKETING >> Sell more with the 2008 Sales Handbook
4. GREAT IDEAS >> How to lead in good times and bad
5. TIPSHEET >> News and events for women in business
6. RECOMMENDED READING >> Canada's best mutual funds; giving employees a nudge
7. About PROFIT Xchange
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1. SUCCESS STORIES >> Sionna's rising star
Business wasn't Kim Shannon's first love. The president and chief investment officer of Sionna Investment Managers Inc. studied zoology at the University of Toronto and was set to do a master's program in 1981 when a friend suggested she had the skills to do well in business. He was right.
After 20 years honing her investment skills and building a reputation as a winning fund manager for the likes of Merrill Lynch Canada and Royal and Sun Alliance, Shannon launched her own investment-counselling firm, Sionna Investment Managers Inc. Four years later the firm had $9 billion in assets--one of the most significant growth rates for a start-up firm in Canadian investment history.
FULL STORY
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/entrepreneur/managing/article.jsp?content=20080428_152857_7840
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THINK BIG! BEYOND BORDERS
May 8-9, 2008
The Grand Hotel, Toronto
Women Entrepreneurs of Canada presents its 3nd annual conference, THINK BIG! BEYOND BORDERS, dedicated to inspiring the big ideas and the risks needed to grow your business in a global environment
Join WEC and a dynamic mix of top-tier Canadian businesswomen, representatives from International Trade Canada-as well as participants from WEC's growing Community of Interest organizations from across Canada for a two-day event that will motivate you to think bigger about your business Workshop topics include: Successful E-Marketing in a Global Marketplace, Creating Your Own Global Business Strategy, and Outrageous Confidence: Stretching Outside Your Comfort Zone, presented by Grace Cirocco, author of the international bestseller "Take the Step, the Bridge Will Be There." Day two, an optional seminar, offers opportunities to meet with and build relationships with participating U.S. guests.
Visit http://www.wec.ca to register and save your seat for Think Big today!
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2. HOW I FIND BALANCE >> HOW CANADA'S FEMALE BUSINESS LEADERS JUGGLE WORK AND PERSONAL TIME
Meeting both business and personal demands has long been a juggling act for women entrepreneurs. Between the long hours, travel, meetings and employee and customer challenges, there's little time left for personal needs. Still, leading a rich, well-rounded life is as essential to your business success as it is to your sanity.
We ask Canada's leading businesswomen to tell us how they effectively manage work/life balance. Each issue we'll bring you the tactics and strategies that help women grow their companies and careers, while still finding a little "me" time to help deal with the personal commitments of life.
THIS ISSUE: Carrie Rowan, president of Absolute Recruitment Inc., a staffing agency in Mississauga, Ont. Rowan founded her firm in 2000 when she was just 22. In eight years, Rowan has added offices in Toronto, Mississauga and Vancouver--and grown Absolute Recruitment's annual revenue to $6 million.
FULL STORY
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/entrepreneur/personal_development/article.jsp?content=20080428_152459_7920
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WANTED: A FEW GOOD WOMEN!
NOMINATE ONE OF CANADA'S TOP WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TODAY!
Now in its 10th year, the PROFIT W100: Canada's Top Women Entrepreneurs is the country's largest celebration of women entrepreneurship. It's the definitive list of Canada's leading women-owned and women-run businesses, ranked by revenue.
Winners will be recognized in the November 2008 issue of PROFIT magazine and year-round at PROFITguide.com. They'll also receive a complimentary invitation to the PROFIT W100 Idea Exchange, a powerful business-building conference at which W100 leaders share ideas, learn from experts and enjoy unmatched networking opportunities.
Request a nomination package by calling 1-800-713-GROW or completing the online ballot at PROFITguide.com/w100ballot.
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3. MARKETING >> SELL MORE WITH THE 2008 SALES HANDBOOK
No matter what you're selling to today's jaded and price-obsessed customers, our 2008 Sales Handbook will give you tested tactics and strategies for finding more prospects and closing more deals.
- State of the sales nation
The results of our exclusive survey will help you benchmark your business, spot your weaknesses and adopt today's most effective sales strategies.
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/entrepreneur/sales_marketing/article.jsp?content=20080407_132905_7528
- Digital Drivers
Support your salespeople with these five evolving technologies.
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/entrepreneur/sales_marketing/article.jsp?content=20080501_198703_198703
- How to hook a sales hero
Entrepreneurs and sales gurus reveal how to attract top reps.
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/entrepreneur/sales_marketing/article.jsp?content=20080501_198705_198705
- Pay for profit
Reward your salespeople for generating margin rather than revenue and you'll boost your bottom line-and retain your best sellers.
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/entrepreneur/sales_marketing/article.jsp?content=20080501_198707_198707
4. GREAT IDEAS >> HOW TO LEAD IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD
In good times, running a company is exhilarating. Money is flowing, customers are happy, employees have a spring in their step. In not-so-good times, the very same job can feel like scaling Mount Everest in a snowstorm. While Canada may escape the throes of a U.S. recession, the next year could prove tough for your firm. Still, you can minimize the impact any downturn will have, says Quint Studer. "Great leadership is everything," says Studer, author of "Results that last: Hardwiring behaviors that will take your company to the top" (Wiley, $24.95). "All other elements of success flow from it. Companies with mediocre leadership can skate by when the economy is booming, but in tough times they really suffer."
In "Results That Last" Studer offers pointers for creating a culture of sustainable leadership that will set your organization on the right path in boom times or bad times:
- DEVELOP A PLAN Sit down with your senior-level management and go through your business plan with a fine-toothed comb. Figure out which objectives you are meeting, which ones need more emphasis, and which ones you should re-think. Make sure goals are aligned across every part of your company, and that everyone is on the same page. At the same time, scrutinize your expenses and cut anything that's not absolutely necessary. Be sure to communicate your plan to all employees.
- HANG ON TO TOP PERFORMERS In uncertain times, it would be disastrous to lose your best employees. But at the same time, it may be unrealistic to pony up a big raise right now. Instead, offer your people perks that don't cost the company a lot of money. Think about ways you can make their lives easier-flex time, partial work-from-home schedules (much appreciated in these times of exorbitant gas prices), access to a "chore runner" to pick up dry cleaning and stop by the supermarket-and implement them.
- SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON CUSTOMER SERVICE When pressure to stay competitive is at an all-time high, you must be certain your customers are getting what they want and need from your company. Don't assume that just because they're not complaining, they're happy. Start asking each customer exactly what his or her expectations are and document the information for any employees who may come in contact with them.
5. TIPSHEET >> NEWS AND EVENTS FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS
-- The Women's Enterprise Centre of Manitoba hosts Experience Speaks, a series of seminars for established women business owners looking to take their companies to the next level. ATTRACTING INVESTORS is the topic on June 10. This session will provide an overview of the key aspects of attracting investors, with a focus on venture capital. Topics will include approaching potential investors, the primary areas of interest to venture capitalists, and an overview of the steps leading up to the investment process. Sessions are limited to just 20 women, all of whom must have been operating their own businesses for at least three years.
6. RECOMMENDED READING
>>> Managing employees: Nudge nudge
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/columnists/rachel_pulfer/article.jsp?content=20080428_198719_198719
>>> Canada's best mutual funds 2008
http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/mutualfunds/2008/Default.aspx?sp2=1&d1=d&sc1=5
7. ABOUT PROFIT XCHANGE
Xchange: Supporting and Celebrating Women in Business is produced by:
PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success
One Mount Pleasant Rd., 11th floor
Toronto, Ont. M4Y 2Y5
Voice: (416) 764-1402
Fax: (416) 764-1404
Editor: Jennifer Myers
Editorial director: Ian Portsmouth
Publisher: Deborah Rosser
To begin, modify or cancel your free Xchange subscription, please visit http://www.PROFITguide.com/enewsletters
We'd love to hear what you think about Xchange. Send your comments to editor Jennifer Myers at jennifer.myers@PROFIT.rogers.com
Copyright 2008, Rogers Media Inc.
ISSN 1492 4633
